Seven players signed to Bills practice squad

The Bills have filled seven spots on the practice squad for the 2014 season.

ORCHARD PARK, NY – The Buffalo Bills today announced that the team has signed DB Deon Broomfield, LB Jimmy Gaines, WR Caleb Holley, DE Ike Igbinosun, DE Bryan Johnson, DB Kenny Ladler and QB Jeff Tuel to the Practice Squad.

Broomfield, Gaines, Holley, Igbinosun, Johnson, Ladler and Tuel all re-join the team after being released on August 30th.

Broomfield originally joined the Bills as an undrafted free agent earlier this offseason. During his collegiate career, Broomfield started all 12 games for the Cyclones in 2013, racking up 57 tackles, six pass breakups and two fumble recoveries. The 6-0, 206 pound Iowa State product finished his collegiate career starting 18 games while recording 133 tackles, 16 pass breakups, three interceptions and four forced fumbles.

Gaines originally joined the Bills as an undrafted free agent earlier this offseason. During his collegiate career, Gaines started 27 of 41 career games played at Miami and he finished his career with 199 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions. The 6-3, 240-pound linebacker is a Buffalo native and graduate of Canisius High School.

Holley originally joined the Bills after participating in the team’s rookie mini-camp on a tryout basis. The 6-4, 200-pound East Central (Oklahoma) product set a school record with 970 receiving yards in 2013, catching 55 passes with nine touchdowns. Prior to East Central, the Anchorage, Alaska native spent two years at San Francisco City College.

Igbinosun will enter his second year on the Bills’ practice squad, after joining the team’s practice squad in November last season. The 6-3, 286-pound Southern Connecticut State product entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2012 before being released prior to the regular season. He spent a portion of his rookie season on the Practice Squad of the Dallas Cowboys and was released during the team’s 2013 training camp.

Johnson originally joined the Bills as an undrafted free agent earlier this offseason. During his collegiate career, Johnson played in 28 games with 10 starts while at West Texas A&M and he tallied 89 tackles, 16.5 tackles for a loss, eight sacks, eight QB hurries, two fumbles forced and two fumbles recovered. Johnson played at Nassau Community College (NY) before West Texas A&M and led the Lions to a 19-2 record while being named a two-time All-Conference selection.

Ladler originally joined the Bills as an undrafted free agent earlier this offseason. During his collegiate career, Ladler started 39-of-50 games at Vanderbilt and finished his collegiate career with 291 tackles (202 solo), 11 stops for a loss and nine interceptions. The 6-0, 207-pound Stone Mountain, GA native became the first defensive back in school and Southeastern Conference history to lead a team in tackles in two consecutive years (90 in 2012 and 91 in 2013).

Tuel has been with the Bills since signing with the team as an undrafted free agent after the 2013 NFL Draft. The 6-3, 221 pound Washington State product saw action in two games last season for the Bills, completing 26-of-59 pass attempts for 309 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.